Comments on: Homeopathy Killshttp://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/homeopathy-kills/
Your Daily Fix of Neuroscience, Skepticism, and Critical ThinkingTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:07:13 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1By: maydonthttp://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/homeopathy-kills/comment-page-1/#comment-11803
maydontFri, 08 May 2009 13:43:28 +0000http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=531#comment-11803Thanks Steve for a great piece. It is interesting what you say, but from my experience, most people who buy into it will use it for "minor ailments" and switch to proper medicine when an alment is a little more serious. From my experience no evidence against this alt med ever sways them (they've made an emotional decision to use it and logic is irrelevant). Although I abhor the idea of wasting my money on this dilusion delusion, I do believe that it can have some benefit - not in the way it is intended, though (see my last point in the post on the link below).
I refer to a piece I wrote last year (click on your prefered link):
10 Reasons why homeopathy is stupid:
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2262302601&topic=3658
http://pauseandconsider.blogspot.com/2008/04/10-reasons-why-homeopathy-is-stupid.html
The last point, number 10, states:
10. HOMEOPATHY IS HARMLESS. I think mostly this is true – taking homeopathic Echinacea for a cold or to prevent a cold may put your mind at ease and less stress could be a good thing. The action of taking "Bach's Rescue Remedy" to get over anxiety may work as a strong placebo - which is perhaps as good as therepeutic counselling. However, if you read up on reputed members of the Society of Homeopaths and what they propose, it makes a further mockery of the “profession”. Peter Chappell of the Society of Homeopaths in the UK claims that he can transmit homeopathic remedies by phone. Others claim to use music and the internet to channel the water’s energy. Others go as far to claim that HIV can be cured too. That’s when it gets particularly dangerous. If patients are denied conventional medicine for homeopathy then homeopaths are guilty of unnecessarily putting humans’ lives at risk.Thanks Steve for a great piece. It is interesting what you say, but from my experience, most people who buy into it will use it for “minor ailments” and switch to proper medicine when an alment is a little more serious. From my experience no evidence against this alt med ever sways them (they’ve made an emotional decision to use it and logic is irrelevant). Although I abhor the idea of wasting my money on this dilusion delusion, I do believe that it can have some benefit – not in the way it is intended, though (see my last point in the post on the link below).

10. HOMEOPATHY IS HARMLESS. I think mostly this is true – taking homeopathic Echinacea for a cold or to prevent a cold may put your mind at ease and less stress could be a good thing. The action of taking “Bach’s Rescue Remedy” to get over anxiety may work as a strong placebo – which is perhaps as good as therepeutic counselling. However, if you read up on reputed members of the Society of Homeopaths and what they propose, it makes a further mockery of the “profession”. Peter Chappell of the Society of Homeopaths in the UK claims that he can transmit homeopathic remedies by phone. Others claim to use music and the internet to channel the water’s energy. Others go as far to claim that HIV can be cured too. That’s when it gets particularly dangerous. If patients are denied conventional medicine for homeopathy then homeopaths are guilty of unnecessarily putting humans’ lives at risk.

]]>By: Sabiohttp://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/homeopathy-kills/comment-page-1/#comment-11801
SabioFri, 08 May 2009 10:34:49 +0000http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=531#comment-11801I am an ex-acupuncturist and ex-homeopath. I have seen harm by both of these methods. Many people feel that "alternative"="natural"="safe". And this formula, as you point out, has been proven wrong again and again. I use to work in Dermatology and have actually seen many cases of deadly eczema due to neglect. Usually it was neglect do to finances, sometimes just pure ugly selfish apathy but occasionally due to mistrust of orthodox medicine. I have also seen Chinese "natural" herbs kill.
But that mistrust is not unfounded. And while preaching against alternative medicines, we must also get better at admitting the log in our own eye. There is another math problem out there. Many people feel "orthodox medicine"="scientific medicine"="safe" which is not true either.
Yes, the self-corrective methods in present orthodox medicine have helped clean up bad meds and bad surgical practices, but orthodox practitioners face many of the same silly faulty cognitive temptations as the alternative folks but the orthodox folks have the government on their side which allows for yet another blind spot.
All to say: <b> Consumer Beware ! </b>I am an ex-acupuncturist and ex-homeopath. I have seen harm by both of these methods. Many people feel that “alternative”=”natural”=”safe”. And this formula, as you point out, has been proven wrong again and again. I use to work in Dermatology and have actually seen many cases of deadly eczema due to neglect. Usually it was neglect do to finances, sometimes just pure ugly selfish apathy but occasionally due to mistrust of orthodox medicine. I have also seen Chinese “natural” herbs kill.

But that mistrust is not unfounded. And while preaching against alternative medicines, we must also get better at admitting the log in our own eye. There is another math problem out there. Many people feel “orthodox medicine”=”scientific medicine”=”safe” which is not true either.

Yes, the self-corrective methods in present orthodox medicine have helped clean up bad meds and bad surgical practices, but orthodox practitioners face many of the same silly faulty cognitive temptations as the alternative folks but the orthodox folks have the government on their side which allows for yet another blind spot.

All to say: Consumer Beware !

]]>By: Mexicanhttp://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/homeopathy-kills/comment-page-1/#comment-11788
MexicanThu, 07 May 2009 18:20:15 +0000http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=531#comment-11788@ MarshallDog
You're right, not only GMPs are important, but the safety and efficacy of the drug is as well as important.
Now I see how they can get away with it. Thank you for the clear explanation.@ MarshallDog

You’re right, not only GMPs are important, but the safety and efficacy of the drug is as well as important.

Now I see how they can get away with it. Thank you for the clear explanation.

]]>By: MarshallDoghttp://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/homeopathy-kills/comment-page-1/#comment-11782
MarshallDogThu, 07 May 2009 13:38:06 +0000http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=531#comment-11782Mexican,
The FDA does regulate homeopathic treatments, but when the regulations were written, they were amended by Senator Royal Copeland, who was a practicing homeopath. Although legally considered drugs, homeopathic remedies are given many exceptions to the regulations. Homeopaths don't have to apply for drug patents to their new medications, nor do they have to prove the products efficacy or safety. Essentially, they can take their concoctions from creation straight to marketing. Homeopaths cannot claim that their remedies cure diseases, but can make "structure/function" claims- in other words, claiming your remedy cures cancer is illegal, but saying it "promotes a healthy lifestyle and boosts your immune system" is okay.
You mention good manufacturing practices also. Homeopaths do have to ensure that their remedies are manufactured safely- the machines that make the pills can't be leaking fluid onto them, or other things like that. Manufacturing is a much different matter than testing efficacy and safety of the supposed medication however. The people that made Vioxx weren't stopped by manufacturing issues, they were essentially forced to pull the drug because of risks of heart attack and stroke, which they only knew about because they are required by law to monitor the safety of their medications. Since homeopaths have no such restrictions, their remedies can continue to be marketed even if they are dangerous.Mexican,

The FDA does regulate homeopathic treatments, but when the regulations were written, they were amended by Senator Royal Copeland, who was a practicing homeopath. Although legally considered drugs, homeopathic remedies are given many exceptions to the regulations. Homeopaths don’t have to apply for drug patents to their new medications, nor do they have to prove the products efficacy or safety. Essentially, they can take their concoctions from creation straight to marketing. Homeopaths cannot claim that their remedies cure diseases, but can make “structure/function” claims- in other words, claiming your remedy cures cancer is illegal, but saying it “promotes a healthy lifestyle and boosts your immune system” is okay.

You mention good manufacturing practices also. Homeopaths do have to ensure that their remedies are manufactured safely- the machines that make the pills can’t be leaking fluid onto them, or other things like that. Manufacturing is a much different matter than testing efficacy and safety of the supposed medication however. The people that made Vioxx weren’t stopped by manufacturing issues, they were essentially forced to pull the drug because of risks of heart attack and stroke, which they only knew about because they are required by law to monitor the safety of their medications. Since homeopaths have no such restrictions, their remedies can continue to be marketed even if they are dangerous.

]]>By: Andrew Bienerthttp://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/homeopathy-kills/comment-page-1/#comment-11780
Andrew BienertThu, 07 May 2009 00:22:41 +0000http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=531#comment-11780And the fact that pharmacies here in Australia (and I'm guessing in many other parts of the world) continue to sell "homeopathic remedies" right alongside genuine medicines further blurs the line in people’s minds of what is real and what is quackery. Genuine and supposedly well respected organisations are just as complicit in peddling this rubbish to the public. The Australian Trade Practices Act has many provisions for consumer protection of misleading and deceptive conduct, yet somehow the pharmacy industry continues to avoid this. In fact, how anyone is allowed to sell homeopathy under the Trade Practices Act is beyond me.And the fact that pharmacies here in Australia (and I’m guessing in many other parts of the world) continue to sell “homeopathic remedies” right alongside genuine medicines further blurs the line in people’s minds of what is real and what is quackery. Genuine and supposedly well respected organisations are just as complicit in peddling this rubbish to the public. The Australian Trade Practices Act has many provisions for consumer protection of misleading and deceptive conduct, yet somehow the pharmacy industry continues to avoid this. In fact, how anyone is allowed to sell homeopathy under the Trade Practices Act is beyond me.
]]>By: tmac57http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/homeopathy-kills/comment-page-1/#comment-11778
tmac57Wed, 06 May 2009 22:01:42 +0000http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=531#comment-11778Thanks DevilsAdvocate.I will take your suggestion under advisement. Best wishes and health to you and Mrs.Thanks DevilsAdvocate.I will take your suggestion under advisement. Best wishes and health to you and Mrs.
]]>By: DevilsAdvocatehttp://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/homeopathy-kills/comment-page-1/#comment-11777
DevilsAdvocateWed, 06 May 2009 20:32:58 +0000http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=531#comment-11777Kudos and all to Tmac & family (Mrs. Advocate is a survivor: L3 anaplastic astrocytoma. Thank you, Dr. Friedman, Duke University Brain Tumor Clinic).
BTW, I believe I'd break the support group rules out in the parking lot after a session. Offering additional info isn't the same as offering medical advice.Kudos and all to Tmac & family (Mrs. Advocate is a survivor: L3 anaplastic astrocytoma. Thank you, Dr. Friedman, Duke University Brain Tumor Clinic).

BTW, I believe I’d break the support group rules out in the parking lot after a session. Offering additional info isn’t the same as offering medical advice.

]]>By: BriansAWildDownerhttp://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/homeopathy-kills/comment-page-1/#comment-11776
BriansAWildDownerWed, 06 May 2009 20:14:21 +0000http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=531#comment-11776tmac57, telling someone to see a doctor is not giving medical advice.tmac57, telling someone to see a doctor is not giving medical advice.
]]>By: SaraJhttp://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/homeopathy-kills/comment-page-1/#comment-11765
SaraJWed, 06 May 2009 16:46:24 +0000http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=531#comment-11765I saw this story in the news, and was horrified. I think the thing that gets me most is the fact that this poor baby probably died in horrible pain from something that was easily treatable. One account I read said that these people were told repeatedly, and by various sources, that their baby needed serious medical help. Why did no one call the police? I assume that Australia has some sort of Child Protective Service and I really just wonder how it was allowed to get to the tragic point that it did.
Anyway, I hope those two go to prison for a very long time.I saw this story in the news, and was horrified. I think the thing that gets me most is the fact that this poor baby probably died in horrible pain from something that was easily treatable. One account I read said that these people were told repeatedly, and by various sources, that their baby needed serious medical help. Why did no one call the police? I assume that Australia has some sort of Child Protective Service and I really just wonder how it was allowed to get to the tragic point that it did.